Deryneia

   Deryneia is one of the Kokkinochoria villages ( Red Soil Villages ) of Ammochostos district and is the nearest to the town of Ammochostos, with only two kilometers distance on the south. Deryneia borders Paralimni ( to the south-east ) and it is only six kilometers away from Ayia Napa.

   There is a lot to see in Deryneia, apart from the open views towards the sea of Ammochostos, the mountains of Karpasia, the plains of Mesaoria. Here, you will enjoy a natural way of life.

   The economy of Deryneia is mainly based on agriculture and animal breeding. The agriculture has been directed mainly to greenhouse produce of early growing vegetables, watermelons, strawberries, retaining of course the region’ s traditional produce of figs, almonds, potatoes, haricot beans, kolokasie., onions etc.

   In May a strawberry festival takes place at Deryneia’ s main square. There you can share the joy of tasting strawberries in all of the forms : as fruit, sweet, confectionery, marmelade, juice, ligueur. You can also dance , sing, and have a fantastic time with the locals who are very hospitable, easy to talk to, good family people, peaceful and fun loving, with sparkling eyes, a good word always at the end of the tongue.

   Moreover the locals adore their tradition, their customs. A proof of this love is the Folkloric museum of Deryneia which is housed in an old traditional house and it’ s the first of its kind in the region. This museum reflects their heritage and way of life.

   In the centre of the town stands a small church built around 1905 to honour Saint Modestos. Saint Modestos , the patron Saint of Deryneia was a doctor and is considered to be the protector of animals. Saint Modestos’ Festival is on the sixteenth of December and is the official Religious Festival.

   To sum up Deryneia is a town where you can see a lot of things and enjoy the hospitality of the locals and the natural way of life.